Wyoming Highway Patrol K-9 Team Injured in Crash

A Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper, an Afton man and a police dog were all taken to hospitals last night after a two-vehicle crash about 20 miles north of Afton.

All but the trooper have been released from medical care. The trooper, 11-year veteran Scott Neilson, was hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to a news release from the Patrol.

Shortly before 6:15 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. Highway 89, Neilson stopped on the shoulder so he could turn around and help a driver change a tire.

The trooper started to make a u-turn from a stopped position on the shoulder of the highway, but didn't see a northbound 2011 Chevy Silverado driven by 58-year-old Kenneth Magrath of Thayne.

The two vehicles collided in the middle of the highway.

After the crash, K-9 Hunter -- who had been in Neilson's patrol car -- jumped out and ran from the scene.

Troopers tracked Hunter in the snow for about three miles while the temperature was -15 F. They eventually found Hunter, with help from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, other troopers and a large community response via a Facebook alert.